Automatic cigar-selling machine



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P. SGHlW-TJDI]R.v AUTOMATIG CIGAR SELLING MACHINE.

Patented Aug. 1%, 1889.

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N. PEYERQ PlmloUllwgrapher. Washinglan, DV 0,

(No Model.) 6 SheetsSheet 2.

"P. SCHNEIDER. AUTOMATIC GIGAR SELLING MACHINE. No. 408,932. PatentedAug. 13, 1889;

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(No Model.) c Sheets-Sheet 3.

P. SCHNEIDER;

AUTOMATIG CIGAR SELLING MACHINE. No. 408,932. Patented Aug. 13, 1889.

6 R E D I E. N .H G S R 7 AUTOMATIC CIGAR-SELLING MACHINE. N0. 408.932.

Patented Aug; 13,"1 889 (No Model.) e SheetsSheet 5.

P. SCHNEIDER. AUTOMATIC CIGAR SELLING MACHINE.

N9. 408,932. Patented Aug. 13, 1889.

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( No Model.) v I 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

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AUTOMATIC CIGAR SELLING MACHINE. No. 408,932. Patented Aug. 13, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER SCHNEIDER, OF BROOKLYN, NEWV YORK.

AUTOMATIC CIGAR-SELLING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,932, dated August13, 1889.

Application filed November 24, 1888. Serial No. 291.777. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER SCHNEIDER, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kingsand State of New York, have invented a new and Improved AutomaticCigar-Selling Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

This invention relates to machines which are so constructed that upondepositing a coin a catch or retaining device will be acted upon by thecoin striking it to release a mechanism normally held in locked positionby the catch and a sign displayed or a merchantable article delivered bythe operation of the mechanism.

The invention has particular reference to a machine of the abovecharacter in which, upon a coin being deposited, a mechanism held inlocked position will be released by the action of the coin and a cigardelivered by the operation of the mechanism.

This invention consists in an automatic cigar-selling machine and indetails thereof, constructed and arranged as hereinafter described andclaimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part'ofthis specification, in which similar figures of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a machine constructed in accordance withthis invention, partly in vertical section and open to disclose itsinterior. Fig. 2 is a plan'view thereof with casing removed from thetop. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line :0 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 isa view in vertical section of the upper portion of the machine on theleft side in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing in verticalsection chute and receptacle for delivering a cigar. Fig. (5 is a detailview of a portion of the mechanism for tripping and releasing thecigar-delivering mechanism. Fig. 7 is a view of the opposite side fromthat in Fig. (3. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a detail of the mechanismacted upon by a coin to release the cigar-delivering mechanism. Fig. 9is a view in vertical section from the rear of the upper portion of theinvention Fig. 10 is a detail view, partly broken away, of a portion ofthe cigardelivering mechanism. Fig. 11 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 12is a detail, partly in section and broken away, of the coin-actuatedmechanism for releasing the cigar-delivering mechanism. Fig. 13 is adetail side view of a portion of the mechanism for tripping andreleasing the cigar-delivering mechanism.

This invention comprises in its general features a horizontal travelingband having its ends wound upon rollers and provided with a series ofspaced apertures, through which one cigar at a time is delivered from anumber of cigars arranged vertically in a frame and having their lowerends resting on the horizontal band.

Connected with an end of one of the rollers is a train of gearingcontrolled bya spring to turn the roller and wind up the horizontal bandupon it, and connected with one end of the other roller is a train ofgearing normally held in locked position by a tripping-pin connectedwith an armature governed by an electro-magnet. The latter is located inan electric circuit controlled by a make-and break contact-leveractuated by a lever having one end extending across a coin-chute andactuated by a coin falling through the chute. As the electric circuit ismade and broken by the action of a coin falling through the chute, theelectro-magnet acts on the armature to withdraw the tripping-pin andrelease the train of gearing which it has been holding in lockedposition, thereby permitting the train of gearing and the rollerconnected therewith to be operated by the spring-controlled train ofgearing on the other roller and cause the horizontal band to be unwoundfrom the first roller and wound up on the second roller. The movement ofthe horizontal band in traveling beneath the cigars during the operationof the rollers continues for a sufficient length of time to bring anaperture therein beneath a cigar and permit it to fall through the sameand down a chute into a suitable receptacle outside of the machine. Atthe same moment that the aperture is brought beneath the cigar thegear-wheel adjacent to the tripping-pin, having made a half-revolution,is brought to a stop by a lug thereon, with whichthe tripping-pinengages, the latter being released from the electromagnet and throwninto engagement with the lug.

In carrying out the invention the machine is formed with a lower or baseportion 1, havin g a door 2 and containing a suitable number of electricbatteries 3, and a casing 4, with door 4:, located above the base 1 andcontaining the operating mechanism for delivering a cigar, and thecircuit-wires 5, connected therewith, for releasing the same, the wiresleading from the batteries 3. The top of easing 4 is provided with asquare opening 0, across which extends a traveling band 7, extendingover rollers S atthe edges of opening (5 downward in casing 4 and havingits ends wound about rollers 9 and 9. Above the opening 6 is located awire frame 10, constructcd with cross-wires 11, whereby a number ofcigars may be set up on end vertically, with their lower ends resting onthe band 7. The latter is provided with a series of apertures 152, soarranged and spaced that as the band 7 is caused to intermittentlytravel across the opening beneath the cigars held vertically in the wireframe 10 and resting on the band 7 the apertures 12 are graduallybrought beneath the cigars to drop one cigar at a time through anaperture into a chute 13, mounted in the interior of the casing l, andhaving its lower end projecting through an opening 1i in the side ofeasing 4 and into an open receptacle 15, mounted on the outside ofeasing -l in opening 1t.

In order to effect the intermittent traveling movement of the band 7,the following-described mechanism is employed: Connected with the roller9 is a train of gearing, consisting of a toothed gear-wheel 10, mountedon the axle 17 of roller 9 and meshing with a pinion 18, connected tothe toothed gear-wheel 19, mounted on a frame 20, secured to theinterior of easing 4. The gear-wheel 1!) is connccted by a pinion 21with a toothed gearwheel 22 011 the frame 20. lVithin the latter ismounted an electro-magnet 23, having an armature 24, mounted on a lever25,hiuged in brackets on frame 20 and held up by a spring 27 on an arm28 of frame 90, so as to hold the armature 2i normally out of contactwith the poles 23 of electro-magnet To the rear end of lever :35 ishinged a trippingrod 29, sliding in bearings 30 and movable by theaction of lever in and out of engagement with a lug or pin 31 on thewheel 22. There are two pins 31.011 the periphery of wheel 22, locateddiametrically opposite to each other, the rod 29 being normally inengagement with one or the other of pins 31 and holdin the train ofgearing in locked position.

In the action of the electro-magnet23 upon its armature 2i and lever 25the rod 29 will be withdrawn from engagement with one of the pins 31 andrelease the train of gearing and be thrown back into engagement with theother pin 31, which is brought around against the rod 29 during therevolution of whee 22 in the movement of the train of gearing. Thismovement of the train of gearing is effected by the movement of a trainof gearing 32, mounted in a frame on the interior of easing 4,connecting with a gear-wheel 34 on the axle of roller 9 and operated bya sprin g-actuated drum 35, mounted in bearings 36 in the casing at andhaving a cord wound thereon at one end, witlrits otherend wound on adrum 87 on the axle 38 of a gear-wheel 3.) in the train of gearing 32.When the train of gearin g connected with roller I) is released by thewithdrawal of rod 29 from a pin 31 on gearwhcel 92, the tension of thespring of syn-ingactuated drum operates the latter and causes the cord36 to be wound on the drum 35,and,through the train of gearing32,0perating the roller 9, draws upon. and winds up the band 7 uponroller 9' and operates the train of gearing connected with roller 9until the gearing is again locked by a pin 31 coming against rod 29. Therelease and stopping of the train of gearing connected with roller 9 iseffected by the following means: Mounted upon the top of easing elf is ametallic plate ell, with vertical posts 42, between which pivoted ametallic lever :43, serving as a contactmaker, the several partsmentioned being good conductors of electricity and covered with a casingit.

To the plate 41 is secured a block ll, of rubber or other suitablenon-conductor of electricity, on which is mounted a coiled spring *5,having a contact-plate l6 at its upper end, located beneath one end oflever 43,13110 other counterbalanced end 42 resting on the weighted end46 of a lever 47, pivoted in an openended casing t8,secured on the topof casin g 4. An electric circuit is formed by means of wires 5, leadingfrom the batteries 3 to the spring and a binding-post 419 on the plate41 and including in the circuit the electro-magnet 23.

The casing 48 is formed with slots 50, of a size to permit the passageof a coin and in alignment with each other, and a passageway 51 in thetop of easing 4,which communicates with a vertical tube 52, dependingfrom the top of the interior of easing 4 and over a re ceptacle 53 inthe bottom thereof. Upon the top of easing 4 is mounted a chute 54,formed with the curved portion 55, which has its lower end communicatingwith the slots in casing l8 and a branch curved chute 56, whichcommunicates at its lower end with a passage-way 57 in the top of easingl, opening into a tube 58, depending from the top of the interior ofeasing l and over the receptacle 58.

The opening from chute 51- into its curved branch 56 is provided withstrips or ledges IIO will fall through the curved portion 56 and downthrough the same and passage-way 57 and tube 58 into receptacle '53without operating the machine. Upon depositing a coin of the proper sizein chute 54, it will pass down therein, striking the end of lever 47across the slot 50 in casin g 48, movingit downwardly, slipping by it,and dropping through slot 50, passage-way 51, and tube 52 intoreceptacle 53. As the coin in its descent through chute 54 strikes andslips by the lever47, in tilting the latter it raises the lever 43 orcontactmaker, moves its outer end into contact with the plate 46 onspring 45, and makes the circuit through wires 5 and electro-magnet 23,causing the latter to act on its armature 24 and move the lever 25,thereby raising the tripping-rod 29 out of engagement with a pin 31 ongear-wheel 22. By this means the train of gearing connected with roller9 is released and the band 7 drawn across the open ing 6 by the actionof the spring-actuated drum 35, train of gearing 32, and roller 9. Themovement of the band 7 across the opening 22 continues a sufficientlength of time to bring an aperture 12 beneath a cigar and permit it todrop through into chute 13, when the movement of the band 7 and theparts above mentioned is stopped by the wheel 22 having made a halfrevolution and being brought to a stop by one of the pins 31 thereoncoming in contact with tripping-rod 29, which has returned to normalposition. The wheel 22 maybe so timed as to determine the length of timeit is desired to have the movable parts operate. 7

As the United States revenue laws require that cigars shall be sold outof the box, and also that they sh all be disclosed to view when on sale,the cigar box in which the cigars come is placed over the wire frame 10,with its bottom removed, and as many cigars from the box as can beplaced vertically in the wire frame 10 with their lower ends resting onthe band 7 are employed.

(50 indicates the cigar-box with bottom removed and resiin g on the topof casing 4 over the wire frame 10. hen the cigar-distributing machineis employed for selling cigars, the cover 61 of the cigar-box must bekept open.

The top of easing 4 and the chute 54 are protected by a covering. Tofurther comply with the law, the covering must be constructed so as tokeep in sight the open boX of cig'ars on sale. As here shown, a covering02 is preferably employed, consisting of a frame (33, having its top andsides glazed and resting on the top of casing 4, where it is fastened byhasps 64 011 covering 62 engaging staples G5 on casing 4 and secured bypadlocks 66, or fastened and secured in any other suitable manner. Theupper end of chute 54 is formed with a hopper-shaped or flaring mouth67, which rests against the under side of the top of covering 62. Abovethe mouth 67 of chute 54 is secured in the top of covering 62, in anysuitable manner, a plate 68, having a projection 69, slotted to permitthe passage of a coin and extending through the top of covering 62 anddepending over the mouth 67.

When the cigars in frame 10 have been distributed, the band 7 mayberewound on roller 9 by lifting and holding by hand the trippingrod 29out of engagement with wheel 22 and turning the roller 9 back by meansof a key engaged with the square projection 7 0, extending from the endof the axle 17 of roller 9 within the casing 4, as shown in Fig. 1. Uponthe band 7 being rerolled on roller 9, the rod 29 may be permitted todrop into engagement with one of the pins 31 011 wheel 22, and therebyhold the parts in locked position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An automatic cigar-sellingmachine consisting of a chute for thepassage of acoin,an electrical contact-maker to be operated by the coin,an electric circuit, an electro-magnet in the electric circuit, atraveling band with spaced apertures and having its ends wound onrollers, a frame for holding vertically cigars resting on end on thetraveling band, a mechanism for operating the traveling band, and atripping device connected with the armature of the electro-magnet forintermittently holding and releasing the mechanism for operating thetraveling band, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a selling-machine, the combination, with an apertured bandmount-ed to form the bottom of a goods-receptacle, of a band-advancingmechanism, a band take-up device, a tripping mechanism, and a coin-chuteleading to said tripping mechanism, substantially as shown anddescribed.

3. In a selling-machine, the combination, with an apertured band formingthe bottom of a goods-receptacle and rollers on which said band iswound, of a band take-up mechanism connected with one roller, aband-advancing mechanism connected with another roller, a trippingmechanism,and acoin-chute leading to the tripping mechanism,substantially as shown and described.

4. In a selling-machine, the combination, with an apertured band formingthe bottom of a goods-receptacle, of a band-advancing mechanism, a bandtake-up mechanism, a trip-lever connected with the band take-upmechanism, an armature on said lever, an electromagnet, a battery,current-wires connecting the battery and electro-magnet, alever in thecircuit normally breaking the same, and a coin-chute discharging on saidlever, substantially as shown and described.-

5. An automatic cigar-selling machine consisting of a casing having anopening in its top, an apertured band mounted to extend across theopening, a frame mounted over the opening for holding cigars verticallywith their lower ends resting on the apertured band, a chute forthepassage of cigars mounted beneath the opening and leading to theoutside of (asiug, a covering extending over the top of the casing anddisclosing its top, a band-advancin g mechanism, a band take-up device,a tripping mechanism, and a coin chute leading to said trippingmechanism, substantially as shown and described.

6. An automatic cigar-selling machine comprising the following elements:a chute for the reception and passage of a coin to a receptacle, acontact-maker with. a trippinglever having one end projecting across thepassage-way of the chute for making and breaking an electric circuit bythe action of a coin on the lever in passing through the chute,eleetrie-cireuit wires leading from a battery to the contact-maker andto an electromagnet having an armature, a traveling-band with spacedapertures having its ends wound on rollers, a frame for holding cigarsarranged therein in vertical position and resting on the traveling band,a cigar-delivery chute located beneath the traveling band andcigar-holding frame, a train of gearing connected to one of thetraveling-band rollers and normally held in locked position by atripping-rod connected with the armature of the electro-magnet andintermittently moved into and out of engagement therewith by the actionof the electromagnet, a train of gearing connected with the other rollerof the traveling band, and a spring-actuated drum having a cordconnected with a drum in the train of gearing, substantially as shownand described.

7. In an automatic cigar-selling machine,a casing' having an opening inits top, a traveling band with spaced apertures extending across theopening and having its ends wound upon rollers, a frame mounted on thetop of the casing and over the opening for holding cigars in verticalposition on the traveling band, a train of gearing connected with one ofthe rollers of the traveling band and intermittently released and lockedby a rod connected with the armature of an clectro-magnet, a train ofgearing connected with the other roller of the traveling band, and aspring-actuated d1Llll1"COl111GCtGd by a cord wound thereon with a drumin the train of gearing and by the action of the spring and aspring-actuated drum operating the traveling band when the first-namedtrain of gearing is released, substantially as shown and described. 1

8. In a coin-operating machine, a chute, a contact-maker having a leverprojecting into the passage-way of the chute and adapted to be tilted bya coin passing through the chute, electrical circuit-wires leading fromabattery to the contact-maker and to an elcctro-magnet, and atripping-rod for holding and re leasing an operating mechanism connectedto and operated by the armature of the electromagnet, substantially asshown and described.

9. In an automatic cigar-selling machine, the casing 4, mounted on asuitable support and having the opening 6 in its top, the wire frame 10,mounted on the top of easing 4, over the opening 6, a cigar-deliverychute 13, mounted beneath the opening 6 and project ing through the sideof easing 4, a traveling band 7,with spaced apertures12,'extendingbetween opening 6 and the top of chute 13, over rollers 8,and having its ends wound about rollers 9 and 9 in casing 4, a train ofgearing connected with the roller 9 and having a gearwheel 22,terminating the gearing, with stoppins 31, a chute 54 on the top ofeasing 4,wit-h branch chutes 55 and 5b, the opening of chute 54 intobranch chute 56 having ledges 5.), a tilting lever 47, projecting acrosschute 54, an electrical contact-maker consisting of lever 43, mounted onposts 42 on plate 41, secured to the top of easing 4, and having acounterweighted arm rested upon a weighted arm 46 of lever 47, acontact-plate 4G, normally out of contact with lever 43 and supported bya spring 45, mounted on an insulatingblock 44 on plate 41, circuit-wires5, leading from batteries 3 to spring 45 and plate 41, an electro magnet23, located in the circuit formed by wires 5, an armature 24, mounted onone end of a lever 25 and normally held out of engagement with the poles23' of electro-magnet 23 by a coiled spring 27, attached to bracket 28,with a sliding trippingpin 29, hinged to lever 25 and normally engaginga pin 31 on wheel 22, a train of gearing 32, connected with roller 9 andhaving a drum 38, and a spring-actuated drum 35, connected by a rope 3bwith drum 3S and having its ends wound on drums 35 and 38, substantiallyas shown and described.

PETER SCHNEIDER.

\Vi tn esses:

E. W. CADY,

U. SEDGWICK.

